Paul Blanchflower has told March Town United he will not be applying for the manager’s job after spending the final three months of the season as the club’s temporary boss.

Blanchflower took over from Paul Crosbie in February with the team near the foot of the Thurlow Nunn First Division – but wasn’t able to turn the tide as the Hares finished bottom.

Last week, March announced they had begun the search for a new full-time boss – and that they had invited Blanchflower to apply.

However, on Wednesday evening, Blanchflower said: “I have told the board I will not be applying.

“Two members of the board were 100 per cent behind me but without the full backing of the board and with the pressures of work commitments I felt it wasn’t for me.”

Despite inviting Blanchflower to apply for the position, the Hares board also indicated it was widening its search to external applicants.

Chairman Phil White said: “The club is determined to avoid a repeat of this season’s finish. We would like Paul Blanchflower to stay at the club and have invited him to apply for the role. But I don’t know whether he will apply.

“We now know what’s going on off the field so we need to concentrate on on-the-field matters.

“We need a three-year plan so applicants will be asked about how they will move the club forward over that period.”

The Hares board met to discuss the managerial situation last week and White hopes to make an appointment soon.

He said: “We want to get things sorted as soon as possible to give the new manager a fighting chance for the new season.”